After listening to Luo Yaoguo's "Oxford accent" in English about the possible gains of Britain, France and the United States, British Consul Aliguo and Vice Consul Wetoma frowned.
What kind of "best" deal is this?
The privileges have not increased, the concession has not expanded, and the monopoly free trade they want is nowhere to be found?
British Vice-Consul Wytoma had a gloomy face and spoke in Chinese: "Mr. Luo, Mr. Wu, you ask for too much, and what you give is too little and too uncertain."
"Oh," Luo Yaoguo said with a smile, "I don't want gifts from you, but I want to buy a gun factory, a cannon foundry, a shipbuilding factory, a gunpowder factory... I will pay for all the equipment and engineers. This is a deal that is beneficial to both of us! And I don’t even have an offer! How can you say now that I gave too little?”
"Mr. Luo, your purchase of machinery and equipment and hiring of engineers is a commercial act, and the price you pay has nothing to do with the consulate." Witoma explained, "The consulate entrusts the embassy to perform business supervision! So we We have the right not to approve these transactions... because these transactions may undermine the neutral stance adopted by our three countries in the Chinese Civil War."
"Oh..." Luo Yaoguo looked at Weitoma with a half-smile, "So you are neutral?"
"Brother Xueyan," Wu Jianzhang said to Luo Yaoguo in Hakka at this time: "What Master Wei means is to further expand the concession, allow the free import of opium and negotiate tariffs."
Luo Yaoguo looked back at Wu Jianzhang and asked in Hakka: "I'm not Su Songtai and Jianjiang Customs Supervisor. You are in charge of the expansion of concessions, trade and tariff issues!"
Wu Jianzhang smiled and said: "Brother Xueyan, I am in charge of these things, but you have elite soldiers... Without your nod, I wouldn't be able to do those things!
Moreover, what the foreigners want most is not the secret turmoil, but the open and honest sale of opium, reduction of tariffs, expansion of concessions, freedom of preaching, etc., all of which must be signed in black and white through the "revision of the treaty". Just rely on me to speak. , the imperial court refused."
Luo Yaoguo sneered: "Mr. Wu, the court is not willing to speak to you, but the court is willing to speak to me?" Then, he said to Wade in Oxford accent: "Mr. Vice Consul, if what you want is the same as what Master Wu just said, If you say the same thing, then it’s hard to obey your orders! I am just the Jiangnan Salt Law Dao and the prefect of Jiangning in the Qing Dynasty, so I have no control over those things."
When Aliguo heard what Luo Yaoguo said, his brows tightened and he said, "Master Luo, you have misunderstood... Regarding the issue of the treaty, we will send the envoys of the Three Kingdoms to discuss it with Master Su, who is about to go abroad from Shanghai.
What we want from you and Master Wu is to jointly manage Jianghaiguan and have jurisdiction over the Shanghai concession. In the future, the Qing army will no longer be able to enter the concession without our permission, and the Qing government will not have the right to enter the concession. Capture fugitives in the concession.
In addition, the American consul also hopes to get a concession land that belongs exclusively to the Americans like the British and French. The French side hopes that the missionaries of the Roman Church can preach freely in the Songjiang and Taicang areas and receive the protection of the Qing Dynasty officials."
As soon as A Liguo's words came out, even Wu Jianzhang's expression changed.
Forget about the jurisdiction within the Shanghai Concession, but not allowing Qing officers and soldiers to enter the Concession and jointly manage Jianghai Customs would be stepping on Wu Jianzhang's bottom line.
Because the Jiangguan Customs Office is in the concession! The tax collectors of Jiangguan Customs also have to collect taxes on the Bund pier. If the officers and soldiers cannot enter the concession, those tax collectors will definitely be regarded as officers and soldiers and will not be allowed to enter the concession.
And when the tax collectors from the Qing Dynasty were not allowed to enter the concession, wouldn't it mean that the customs was handed over to foreigners to manage it?
The foreigners have obtained Jiangguan Customs. Who will Mr. Wu's Jiangguang Customs Supervisor supervise? Supervise the foreigners? How can we still be corrupt in the future?
However, Wu Jianzhang did not dare to fall out with the foreign master, so he could only look at Luo Yaoguo with a sad face.
Luo Yaoguo said categorically: "We cannot discuss the jurisdiction of the concession, the power of Qing officers and soldiers to enter the concession, and the autonomy of customs."
Aliguo said coldly: "Master Luo, Master Wu, I hope you can recognize the reality. Now you need the support of Britain, France, and the United States more than we three countries need you more! Without our support, you Your army will definitely be crushed by Luo Yaoguo, King of Wu of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, and your life will even be in danger!"
Luo Yaoguo had a righteous look on his face: "I'm not afraid, loyal ministers are not afraid of death!"
Weitoma threatened; "You don't think that with thousands of foreign guns and dozens of artillery, you can stop his tens of thousands of troops? Our three countries are neutral! Neutral countries can sell you weapons, or they can Sell ​​him the same weapons! If he has ten thousand foreign guns and dozens of advanced cannons, can you still hold Shanghai?"
Luo Yaoguo snorted coldly: "Mr. Vice Consul, you don't need to threaten me here! If you British people want to sell weapons to Luo Yaoguo, just go ahead and sell them...I, Luo Xueyan, am not afraid!"
Weituma looked at Luo Yaoguo with a look of regret: "Master Luo, you are stupider than I thought!"
"You are the one who is stupid!" Luo Yaoguo retorted, "If the Taiping Army enters Shanghai, there will be no more concessions, and they will not recognize the treaty signed between the Qing Dynasty and you!"
Witoma showed a sarcastic smile: "We in the British Empire have dealt with too many rebels in various parts of the world. These people have always been easy to talk to in order to gain our support."
This time, Luo Yaoguo said calmly: "Then let's give it a try. Shop around. If Luo Yaoguo gives you more, go and make a deal with him. Otherwise, come and talk to me, Luo Xueyan. I welcome you at any time." .But before you go to negotiate with Luo Yaoguo, you still have to help me resist his army! Am I right?
Let's do this. We'll talk about those long-term deals later. Now, you help me guard the Shanghai port first. You don't want to talk to Luo Yaoguo after the Taiping Army captures Shanghai, right? Believe me, he is really not that easy to talk to!
I know him very well, and he is different from the feudal lords you see in other countries...because he is probably really the devil!"
Aliguo and Wytoma wanted to say some more threatening words - the British Empire has no eternal enemies, even the devil can cooperate as long as there are benefits!
But as soon as Luo Yaoguo's argument about "Luo Yaoguo is the devil" came out, the Frenchmen Aitang and Pierre on the side had already made the sign of the cross there - they and Luo Xueyan had a common interest, which was the "Great Prophecy"! They couldn't go
They asked "Devil Luo Yaoguo" for the latest version of "The Great Book of Prophecy", but Luo Xueyan can help them collect it.
Then I heard Consul Aitang say resolutely: "France will not cooperate with the devil, absolutely not! This is what Minister Bourblon meant! Moreover, Mr. Luo is a devout Catholic, and he firmly opposes the blasphemous Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.
He is a friend of France!"
Old Pierre on the side said, "France will always be loyal to God. We French people will never make a deal with the devil!"
When Luo Yaoguo heard the Frenchman's statement, he immediately smiled kindly, nodded slightly, and then turned his attention to the American consul.
The American consul and Qing republican, admirer of General Washington, and Luo Xueyan, whose family had lived in the Republic, had the same values ​​- they all loved the "white pound"!
So the American Major Ma Hui immediately said solemnly: "Consul of Ali State, our Minister Mr. Marsali recently instructed the Shanghai Consulate to try to assist Mr. Luo in defending the Shanghai port. Mr. Minister believes that the Shanghai port is controlled by Mr. Luo and Mr. Wu.
It is very in line with the interests of the United States! And I think that the transaction with Mr. Luo and Mr. Wu will benefit all of us a lot, and he will definitely turn Shanghai into a prosperous oriental metropolis."
Hearing the words of Consul Aitang and Consul Ma Hui, Aliguo and Weitoma were both startled, and then their necks turned a little red with anger, and their good English white faces almost turned into American red necks.
What about the "Unity of the Great Powers" that was promised? Isn't it just a "Great Book of Prophecy" and a devil who can predict the future? Does this make you give up on the "Unity of the Great Powers"? It's so futile!
But as a diplomat of the British Empire, you can't be thin-skinned!
Therefore, the necks of the two people only turned slightly red and returned to normal. The consul of Ali State said with a smile: "In fact, Minister Wenxian also believes that ensuring the stability of the Shanghai port is conducive to the interests of the British Empire... So, Luo Luo
Sir, Sir Wu, we will continue to support you in defending the Shanghai port without violating neutrality! We will send engineers to help you build trenches and wooden walls to protect Shanghai County and the concession, and we will continue to allow my citizens to help you
Train the army, but our citizens will not be allowed to directly participate in the battle with the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom!"
Witoma gritted his teeth and asked the French and Americans with a smile: "Consul Aitang, Major Ma Hui, I think this is also the position of the French Empire and the United States of America, right?"
The French and American consuls both smiled and nodded. The principle of unity among the great powers is now back!
Ali Guo and Weitoma both breathed a sigh of relief - ever since the Luo Devil appeared in China, it has been difficult for the imperialist troops to lead!
Chapter completed!